South Korea's Nuri rocket launches with record payload and private oversight

A homegrown Nuri rocket has lifted off from South Korea’s Naro Space Center. The launch took place at 1:13 a.m. on Thursday, following an 18-minute delay from its scheduled time. This mission marks the fourth flight for the 200-ton rocket, which was assembled by Hanwha Aerospace. Nuri’s first flight in October 2021 failed to place a dummy satellite into orbit. However, the following launches in June 2022 and May 2023 were successful. This time, the rocket carried a payload of about 1,040 kilograms, more than double its previous mission.

The rocket’s task is to deploy 13 satellites into a 600-kilometre orbit. These will support weather observation, medical research, and space-environment monitoring. A key moment will be the separation of the final CubeSat at 15 minutes and 7 seconds after liftoff.

For the first time, a private company oversaw the entire pre-launch process in South Korea. Officials expect to confirm the mission’s outcome one hour and 20 minutes after launch. The mission’s success hinges on the precise deployment of all satellites. The increased payload and private sector involvement mark significant steps for South Korea’s space programme. Final results will be confirmed once all data has been reviewed.